news An 18-year-old UW-River Falls student from Kewaskum was found dead early Saturday in a Somerset home where she had spent the night as a guest, along with several other people.
Sarah M. Boettcher wasn't breathing when she was discovered by another woman in a bathroom around 7:30 a.m., Saturday, at...
New Richmond, 54017

New Richmond Wisconsin 127 South Knowles Avenue 54017

2013-09-18 10:34:43

An 18-year-old UW-River Falls student from Kewaskum was found dead early Saturday in a Somerset home where she had spent the night as a guest, along with several other people.

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Sarah M. Boettcher wasn't breathing when she was discovered by another woman in a bathroom around 7:30 a.m., Saturday, at 461 Marlon's Ct., west of Highway 35 on the north side of the village.

St. Croix County dispatch records indicate Somerset Rescue responded, along with an ambulance from Lakeview Medical Center, Somerset police and St. Croix County deputies. Resuscitation efforts were attempted. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Croix County Medical Examiner.

Her body was removed to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's office for an autopsy.

Police chief Doug Briggs said her death remains under investigation but foul play is not suspected. More will be known when initial autopsy results are released.

St. Croix County property records indicate the home where Boettcher died is listed to Laurie A. James.

A UW-River Falls spokesman acknowledged that Boettcher was a first-year student, majoring in elementary education who lived on-campus.

An online obituary posted by the Miller Funeral Home, Kewaskum, stated Sarah was the daughter of David and Yvonne Boettcher. She is survived by her parents, two brothers, Tim Boettcher of LaCrosse and Michael Boettcher at home; and many other relatives, including an aunt, Diane (Harry) Felberg of Hudson.

She was a graduate of Holy Trinity Catholic School in Kewaskum and a 2013 graduate of Kewaskum High School, where she was active in band, choir, musicals, plays and participated in tennis and soccer.

Visitation is set for 2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 331 Main Street in Kewaskum. A funeral Mass will be held at 6 p.m.

Kewaskum, Washington County, is located about 45 miles north of downtown Milwaukee and 20 miles south of Fond du Lac.

Steve Dzubay has been publisher at the River Falls Journal and Hudson Star Observer since 1995. He holds a bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota. He previously worked as a reporter-photographer at small daily newspapers in Minnesota and is past editor of the Pierce County Herald and River Falls Journal.